Activities for Rainy Days

Updated: 02-Mar-2017

Fun Wet Weather Activites in Cairns. If it's raining in Cairns the locals rarely bring out an umbrella. Often times it's a welcome relief from the humid warm tropical weather. There is no need to stay put in your Cairns accommodation and wait for the sun to come out. There are quite a few activities which are actually enhanced by the wet weather. Below we have listed a few ideas:

White Water Rafting on the Tully River:You're going to get wet anyway so don't let the rain stop you! This is without a doubt the most exciting way to immerse yourself in the heart of the North Queensland Rainforest. The Tully River is the best white water rafting experience in Australia and with a bit of rain behind it the experience is even better. The day trip is run by professionals and very safe. Minimum age is 13 years. It's great fun!

The Tully River is located south of Cairns. We have packages available including transfers from Cairns & Mission Beach.Barron River Half Day Rafting:The Barron River is a little less extreme than the Tully and only 20 minutes from Cairns. This half day adventure departs from Cairns and Port Douglas daily. During the wet season the Barron River dam overflows and the White Water Rafting trip jumps from grade 2 to grade 3 rapids. Great for Families! Your guide will give you comprehensive safety instructions and the world's best Rafts are used.

Blazing Saddles Horseriding & ATV:Blazing Saddles is the longest established horse riding and quad bike tour company in Far North Queensland. Locally owned and operated, it is now located only 10mins from both Cairns and Northern Beaches. Well suited to even the most time conscious visitor and is perfect for a soft adventure activity for the whole family!

Blazing Saddles is located on a working sugar cane farm and the property boasts an 18 acre billabong which is abundant with native birds and amphibious creatures of all shapes and sizes! You will even get a chance to meet the resident geese, peacocks, ducks, perhaps even spot a crocodile!

Cairns Zoom at the Rainforest Dome: The Cairns Zoom is the world's first Challenge Ropes Course in a wildlife immersion exhibit, situated in the heart of Cairns City. Test your strength and bravery on more than sixty-five different crossings over two height levels, encompassing a climbing wall, log bridges, tunnels, swinging beer kegs, skateboards, seesaws, cargo nets and more.

The Rainforest Dome is located in 20 metre high glass dome on top of the Reef Hotel Casino. Here you will see the huge saltwater crocodile "Goliath" in his unique pen with an underwater glass viewing tank. The Rainforest Dome also houses many other native animals including fresh water crocodiles, turtles, frogs, snakes, koalas and many free flying birds all in a very well presented rainforest environment.

The Rainforest Dome is open 7 days from 8am - 6pm. Access is via the lifts in the casino lobby. At time of writing prices start from $45 for an adult, $22.50 for a child and $112.50 for 2 adults and 2 children (4-14yrs).

Go Mountain Biking:Retrace the 1996 UCI World Mountain Bike Championship course, both cross country and downhill with Dan's Mountain Biking. This course was previously utilised for two rounds of the Grundig World Cup Series. The course weaves through tropical rainforest and offers 'interesting' challenges. Dan is a very experienced rider, with local knowledge of the best trails in the region. He was the mountain bike course designer and leg co-ordinator for the Discovery Channel Eco-Challenge Race (Australia) in 1997. Half day or full day tours are available including a daytrip to Cape Tribulation World Heritage Rainforest.

Cape Tribulation 4WD daytrip: One of our most popular daytrips from Cairns is the Cape Tribulation daytrip. This is absolutely an all weather activity. The rainforest really comes alive in the rain and in fact we would describe it as 'perfect timing' if it does rain in this World Heritage Rainforest. On the drive up to Cape Tribulation along the scenic Port Douglas Captain Cook route there are many waterfalls that spring into action. This is also the case on the way up to Cape Tribulation and truly adds to the experience.

Kuranda Train & Skyrail:Visiting Australia's Tropical Rainforests in the rain is a magical, must-do experience. If you are here during the wet season (between December & April) and we have had some heavy rain, the waterfalls & rainforest along the train tracks up to Kuranda are a sight not to be missed. And what better way to see them than from the comfort of the classic Kuranda Train as it winds its way up the mountain to Kuranda, or the bird's eye view from one of Skyrail gondolas as they travel between Cairns & Kuranda.

The journey offers magnificent views, rolling cloud formations hug the majestic rainforest-clad mountain ranges, shrouding this ancient environment in a cloak of moisture-laden mist. The rainforests respond with an array of flowers, fruit and new growth, making now a particularly spectacular time to visit this World Heritage listed area.

On Skyrail, you will glide through the clouds in fully-enclosed gondola cabins, enjoying unrivalled views over the rich rainforest canopy of the Barron Gorge National Park. Two rainforest mid-stations allow you to explore and learn more from the forest floor. Enjoy a Ranger guided boardwalk tour at Red Peak Station, and soak up the majesty of the mighty Barron Falls from one of the three lookouts at Barron Falls Station.

The Kuranda Train & Skyrail travel right past the magnificent Barron Falls giving you the best possible view and photo opportunity.

You can book a wide range of Kuranda Train and Skyrail day tours with travstar.com that either include return Cairns, Port Douglas or Northern Beaches hotel transfers, or you can drive your car to the Skyrail Station and leave it there for the day opting for the one way transfer daytrip.

Don't panic if rain is predicted on the only day it is possible to do your Reef trip from Cairns: The forecasts for Cairns often predict rain but the reality is that our city is surrounded by mountains and rain is regularly predicted however often this is simply a shower in the morning or overnight. Outer Reef dive and snorkel operators often have a number of moorings on the Great Barrier Reef and can choose their destinations for the day based on the weather patters and tides. It is excellent when the day is sunny and clear however once you are underwater the coral and fish in this spectacular underwater world are all still going about their daily activities and looking cute. The benefits of visiting the reefs from Cairns, besides the variety of boats available at very reasonable prices, are the proximity of the outer reefs to shore. The fact that there are so many coral islands, continental islands, drop offs and drift dive sites to name a few. The dive shops are highly professional and have outstanding safety records, as does the dive industry as a whole